Friday, August 08, 2008

I learned to swim in the water beyond this tree. My mother used to pack us up and haul the playpen down to the beach where we'd spend the entire day. Easily among the happiest days of my entire life. We loved being around at just this spot with my mother and my little brother and loved eating and napping in the sand, under the shade of the pine tree with the gnarled exposed roots. We loved being there the whole day. It's rare that I go to Coeur d'Alene and not do a drive by. That's our spot.The other day I was so happy to see another mother with another family in our spot. Thought of my mom; who loved us and loved being a mother. How could she know the exact perfect thing to do with four kids of different ages during the dog days of summer? How many mothers and children have spent hot days on the north shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene running in and out of the silky water, throwing themselves on a freshly washed beach towel, on a cushion of soft North Idaho sand?

We literally played all day; with logs, sticks and beer cans. All day! We rode the logs like cowboys; like pilots; like kings and queens. And we were-- the kings and queens of The Great State of North Idaho. Would a Coeur d'Alene by any other name be as warm, or as blue, or smell as good? like wet sawdust?

love this post...and I love that you can go to the spot to conjure up those memories over and over. Our times on the beach with Mom only happened once a year on the Clearwater River, but our favorite beach is under Dworshak Dam! Fortunately we found another one.

Mrs. Roosevelt, I love that I can go there, too. So I do; at least twice a week. My husband is so patient with me. I'm glad you found another spot; God help the universe if anything ever happens to Lake Coeur d'Alene as it flows into the Spokane River. I should amend my thought to read "How many mothers and children have spent hot days together on the rivers and lakes of North Idaho?

:) You had such a different childhood than I did! But I tried to remember everything that was the very best and take you to get it. I still have some secrets to tell you about, though. We still have a lot of time together.